Appalachian State sweeps opening matches
BOONE, N.C. – The Appalachian State University wrestling team got off to a fast start for the 2013-14 season. The Mountaineers beat Anderson University 43-9 and Cumberland University 32-12 at Varsity Gym on Sunday afternoon.
Appalachian got started against Anderson in the first match of the day. Starting at 149 pounds, Dylan Cottrell dominated Ian Harper from Anderson by pinning him in 23 seconds. At 157 pounds, true freshman Nick Hall fell to Zane Newton by decision, 3-2.
True freshman Adrian Soto-Perez wrestled Anderson's Eric DeAngelis at 165 pounds and won by fall, pinning DeAngelis in 1:35. Colin Hedash wrestled at 174 pounds for the Mountaineers and won by major decision over Stephen Wylie, 11-2. Alex Kruklinski, Paul Weiss and Denzel Dejournette picked up forfeits at 184 pounds, 197 and heavyweight, respectively. At 125 pounds, Vito Pasone won by decision over Cory Monteforte, 6-2. True freshman Colby Langford outworked Kennan Simmons at 133 pounds, pinning him in 3:46. The Mountaineers would forfeit at 141 pounds and take the first match of the day over Anderson, 43-9.
The second match of the day for the Mountaineers was against Cumberland University. Dylan Cottrell continued his dominating streak and won by technical fall over Nate Croley, 20-3. Hall won by forfeit at 157 pounds for the Mountaineers.
2013 NCAA Qualifier Zack Strickland picked a win by decision over Kirk Johnson, 7-6. Hedash also picked up his second victory, winning by decision over Zeke Hunt, 4-3. At 184 pounds, Kruklinski fell in a tough battle with Cody Linton by a decision of 9-2. Weiss defeated Scott Stewart by a 7-1 decision at 197 pounds. Denzel Dejournette picked up a third-period pin to win by fall over Tyler Smith at heavyweight. The pin was at 5:43.
2013 NCAA Qualifier Dominic Parisi won by fall over Justus Griffith with a pin at 1:09. Pasone fell to Billy Ward by decision at 133 pounds, 7-6. The Mountaineers forfeited at 141 and would win the match by a final of 32-12.
Appalachian State 43, Anderson 9
125: Vito Pasone (APP) dec. Cory Monteforte, 6-2 (App 3-0)
133: Colby Langford (APP) fall Kennan Simmons, (3:46) (App 9-0)
141: Zake Hale (AU) wins by forfeit (App 9-6)
149: Dylan Cottrell (APP) fall Ian Harper, (0:23) (App 15-6)
157: Zane Newton (AU) dec. Nick Hall, 3-2 (App 15-9)
165: Adrian Soto-Perez (APP ) fall Eric DeAngelis, (1:35) (App 21-9)
174: Colin Hedash (APP) maj. dec. Stephen Wylie, 11-2 (App 25-9)
184: Alex Kruklinski (APP) wins by forfeit (App 31-9)
197: Paul Weiss (APP) wins by forfeit (App 37-9)
HWT: Denzel Dejournette (APP) wins by forfeit (App 43-9)
Appalachian State 32, Cumberland 12
125: Dominic Parisi (APP) fall Justus Griffith, (1:09) (App 6-0)
133: Billy Ward (CU) dec. Vito Pasone, 7-6 (App 6-3)
141: Dalton Baysinger (CU) wins by forfeit (CC 9-6)
149: Dylan Cottrell (APP) tech. fall. Nate Croley, 20-3 (App 11-9)
157: Nick Hall (APP) wins by forfeit, (App 17-9)
165: Zack Strickland (APP) dec. Kirk Johnson, 7-6 (App 20-9)
174: Colin Hedash (APP) dec. Zeke Hunt, 4-3 (App 23-9)
184: Cody Linton (CU) dec. Alex Kruklinski, 9-2 (App 23-12)
197: Paul Weiss (APP) dec. Scott Stewart, 7-1 (App 26-12)
HWT: Denzel Dejournette (APP) fall Tyler Smith, (5:43) (App 32-12)
Chattanooga goes 1-2 at Hokie Duals
SALEM, Va. – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling team went 1-2 at the Hokie Duals on Sunday. The Mocs defeated Hofstra 19-14 but fell to No. 17 Virginia Tech 27-10 and Rider 19-17 in dual match competition.
Junior Corey Mock led the way at 165 pounds. He defeated three ranked opponents in the event and is 5-0 since transferring from North Carolina over the summer.
Chattanooga posted back-to-back wins at 197 and heavyweight to defeat Hofstra (19-14) in the first match of the day. The Pride took a 10-3 lead with wins in three of the first four matches. Junior Nick Soto had the lone victory for the Mocs at 133 in that run. It was his first of three wins on the day.
Soto was trailing Jamel Hudson 6-2 after two periods but tied the match with a takedown and two back points early in the final frame. Hudson escaped for a one-point lead, but Soto scored the match-winning (8-7) takedown with 34 seconds left.
Senior Alex Hudson closed the team gap to 10-7 with a major decision win over Nick Terdick (11-1) at 157. Mock tied the team score at 10 with his 5-1 decision over No. 11 Joseph Booth. Junior Levi Clemons gave UTC a 13-10 advantage with his 7-3 decision over Victor Pozsonyi at 174.
Hofstra took the lead one more time with a major decision at 184, but freshman Jared Johnson and junior Kevin Malone closed the door with wins at 197 and heavyweight.
For the second time in three matches, UTC competed hard against a ranked team. The Mocs trailed No. 17 Virginia Tech 11-10 with four bouts left before falling 27-10. Soto, Hudson and Mock all scored wins for UTC. Mock was impressive with his 8-0 major decision over No. 16 Chris Moon. The Hokies put the match out of reach at 197, scoring six points when Johnson had to forfeit due to an injury.
The final match with Rider was back-and-forth throughout, with the Broncs taking a 19-14 win. UTC won four of the first six matches, with Soto and Hudson scoring bonus points. Hudson also scored his third win of the day. Chattanooga held a 14-9 lead after Mock shut out No. 12 Ramon Santiago 5-0 at 165.
Rider won the next three matches, including a nail-biter at 174. Clemons lead Connor Brennan 1-0 with time winding down, but Brennan was able to get a takedown with five seconds left for a 2-1 win. Malone scored a win at heavyweight to close out the match, but he needed a tech fall or pin to close the gap.
Chattanooga is 2-3 on the season and back in action this weekend at Maclellan Gym. UTC hosts Life and Shorter in a tri-meet. It is a full day of Mocs action in Maclellan, beginning with UTC volleyball hosting Furman at 3 p.m. Wrestling will start immediately following and admission is free.
Chattanooga 19, Hofstra 14
125: Jamie Franco (Hofstra) – Dec. 6-1 - Zach Bridson (UTC) – Hofstra 3-0
133: Nick Soto (UTC) – Dec. 8-7 - Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) – 3-3
141: No. 14 Luke Vaith (Hofstra) – MD 11-3 - Austin Sams (UTC) – Hofstra 7-3
149: Cody Ruggirello (Hofstra) – Dec. 8-5 - Michael Hooker (UTC) – Hofstra 10-3
157: Alex Hudson (UTC) – MD 11-1 - Nick Terdick (Hofstra) – Hofstra 10-7
165: No. 13 Corey Mock (UTC)- Dec. 5-1 – No. 11 Joseph Booth (Hofstra) – 10-10
174: Levi Clemons (UTC) – Dec. 7-3 - Victor Pozsonyi (Hofstra) – UTC 13-10
184: Dwight Howes (Hofstra) – MD 13-2 - Clay Dent (UTC) – Hofstra 14-13
197: Jared Johnson (UTC) – Dec. 4-1 - David Heitman (Hofstra) – UTC 16-14
285: Kevin Malone (UTC) – Dec. 3-1 - Michael Hughes (Hofstra) – UTC 19-14
No. 17 Virginia Tech 27, Chattanooga 10
125: No. 20 Joey Dance (Virginia Tech) – Dec. 9-3 - Zach Bridson (UTC) – Virginia Tech 3-0
133: Nick Soto (UTC) – Dec. 4-0 - Erik Spjut (Virginia Tech) – 3-3
141: No. 3 Devin Carter (Virginia Tech) – Tech Fall 23-8 (5:59) - Austin Sams (UTC) – Virginia Tech 8-3
149: No. 12 Zach Neibert (Virginia Tech) – Dec. 4-2 - Michael Hooker (UTC) – Virginia Tech 11-3
157: Alex Hudson (UTC) – Dec. 9-3 - Sal Mastriani (Virginia Tech) – Virginia Tech 11-6
165: No. 13 Corey Mock (UTC) – MD 8-0 – No. 16 Chris Moon (Virginia Tech) – Virginia Tech 11-10
174: Austin Gabel (Virginia Tech) – Dec. 10-4 - Levi Clemons (UTC) – Virginia Tech 14-10
184: Nick Vetterlein (Virginia Tech) – MD 12-2 - Clay Dent (UTC) – Virginia Tech 18-10
197: Chris Penny (Virginia Tech) – Inj. Def. - Jared Johnson (UTC) – Virginia Tech 24-10
285: Ty Walz (Virginia Tech) – Dec. 6-3 - Kevin Malone (UTC) – Virginia Tech 27-10
Rider 19, Chattanooga 17
125: No. 17 Robert Deutsch (Rider) – Dec. 7-3 - Zach Bridson (UTC) – Rider 3-0
133: Nick Soto (UTC) – MD 13-2 - Chuck Zeisloft (Rider) – UTC 4-3
141: Paul Kirchner (Rider) – Fall 2:39 - Austin Sams (UTC) – Rider 9-4
149: Michael Hooker (UTC) – Dec. 6-0 - Curt Delia (Rider) – Rider 9-7
157: Alex Hudson (UTC) – MD 12-2 - Wayne Stinson (Rider) – UTC 11-9
165: No. 13 Corey Mock (UTC) – Dec. 5-0 – No. 12 Ramon Santiago (Rider) – UTC 14-9
174: Connor Brennan (Rider) – Dec. 2-1 - Levi Clemons (UTC) – UTC 14-12
184: Clint Morrison (Rider) – MD 9-0 - Clay Dent (UTC) – Rider 16-14
197: Donald Mcneil (Rider) – Dec. 14-11 - Scottie Boykin (UTC) – Rider 19-14
285: Kevin Malone (UTC) – Dec. 4-1 - Greg Velasco (Rider) – Rider 19-17
VMI competes at Hokie Duals, Hokie Open
SALEM, Va. – The Virginia Military Institute wrestling team took part in the Hokie Duals on Sunday, squaring off with two in-state foes, No. 14 University of Virginia and No. 8 Virginia Tech, as well as Long Island-based Hofstra University.
The Keydets opened the 2013 Hokie Duals, hosted by Tech at the Salem Civic Center, with Virginia, falling 42-3. In the second match, VMI’s interim head coach Chris Skretkowicz had a chance to coach against his alma mater, Hofstra, but the Keydets fell 43-3. In the final period of dual matches, the Keydets fell to the hosts 47-0.
Senior heavyweight Juan Adams led the day for VMI (0-3), winning two of his three matches. His lone loss was a one-point decision in the final bout of the day. The Houston, Texas, native knocked off Virginia’s Collin Campbell 4-1, followed by a 4-0 victory over Hofstra’s Mike Hughes. In the finale, Adams dropped a 10-9 decision against Virginia Tech’s Ty Walz.
In the opening match, VMI’s Shabaka Johns battled hard with Virginia’s Chris Yankowich but fell 3-2. Another close match involving a Keydet was at 197 pounds versus Hofstra. VMI’s Andrew Embree pushed his match to double overtime with David Heitman, with the score knotted 2-2 at the end of regulation. Heitman managed a takedown in the second sudden-victory period.
In the Hokie Open portion of the day, it was a tough outing or the Keydets. Only Michael LaPrade collected a win, besting Rider University's unattached wrestler, Andrew Marr, 5-2 in the first round of the consolation bracket.
The Keydets are in the The Thunderdome for the first time in 2013-14 next Saturday as they host the Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall College. Match time is set for 4 p.m. at Cocke Hall.
No. 14 Virginia 42, VMI 3
125: Will Mason (VA) MAJ DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI), 12-2 (4-0)
133: Joseph Martinez (VA) MAJ DEC Mike Flora (VMI), 10-1 (8-0)
141: Joe Spisak (VA) TECH FALL Emmitt Kelly (VMI), 16-0 (13-0)
149: Chris Yankowich (VA) DEC Shabaka Johns (VMI), 3-2 (16-0)
157: Blaise Butler (VA) MAJ DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI), 14-2 (20-0)
165: Nick Sulzer (VA) WBF Mark Darr (VMI), 1:55 (26-0)
174: Steven Doty (VA) WBF Derek Thurman (VMI), 3:53 (32-0)
184: James Suvak (VA) MAJ DEC Hardy Hendren (VMI), 16-6 (36-0)
197: Patrick Gillen (VA) WBF Andrew Embree (VMI), 3:49 (42-0)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC Collin Campbell (VA), 4-1 (42-3)
Hofstra 43, VMI 3
125: Jamie Franco (HU) MAJ DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI), 14-1 (4-0)
133: Jamel Hudson (HU) TECH FALL Mike Flora (VMI), 17-2 (9-0)
141: Luke Vaith (HU) TECH FALL Joe Jarrells (VMI), 16-0 (14-0)
149: Cody Rugirello (HU) WBF Shabaka Johns (VMI), 1:32 (20-0)
157: Nick Terdick (HU) MAJ DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI), 16-6 (24-0)
165: Joe Booth (HU) WBF Mark Darr (VMI), 1:00 (30-0)
174: Victor Pozsonyi (HU) MAJ DEC Derrick Thurman (VMI), 10-0 (34-0)
184: Dwight Howes (HU) WBF Hardy Hendren (VMI), 2:00 (40-0)
197: David Heitman (HU) DEC Andrew Embree (VMI), 4-2 (SV2) (43-0)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC Mike Hughes (HU), 4-0 (43-3)
No. 8 Virginia Tech 47, VMI 0
125: Joey Dance (VT) TECH FALL Dalton Henderson (VMI), 15-0 (5:16) (5-0)
133: Erik Spjut (VT) TECH FALL Mike Flora (VMI), 16-0 (3:12) (10-0)
141: Devin Carter (VT) WBF Joe Jarrells (VMI), 0:39 (16-0)
149: Zach Neibert (VT) TECH FALL Shabaka Johns (VMI), 16-1 (7:00) (21-0)
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) MAJ DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI), 13-3 (25-0)
165: Chris Moon (VT) MAJ DEC Mark Darr (VMI), 14-3 (29-0)
174: Austin Gabel (VT) TECH FALL Derek Thurman (VMI), 18-2 (3:29) (34-0)
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) 4PT TECH FALL Hardy Hendren (VMI), 24-9 (7:00) (38-0)
197: Chris Penny (VT) WBF Andrew Embree (VMI), 2:53 (44-0)
285: Ty Walz (VT) DEC Juan Adams (VMI), 10-9 (47-0)
The Citadel wraps competition at Hokie Open
SALEM, Va. – The Citadel wrestling team placed seven grapplers on Sunday at the competitive Hokie Open, hosted by Virginia Tech, held at the Salem Civic Center.
Turtogtokh Luvsandorj kicked off his final season with a second-place finish in the 174-pound division, while 125-pound Joaquin Marquez and 149-pound Aaron Walker also took second in their respective divisions.
Kenneth Radford earned fourth place in the 165-pound bracket and Aaron Hansen took fifth at 133 to round out the attached Citadel placers.
Ugi Khishignyam, who wrestled unattached in the 141-pound division, ran through the competition to take the title, while freshman Terrell Forbes took fourth place as an unattached wrestler at 157.
Luvsandorj, who is ranked 15th in the country in his weight class, took down two Southern Conference wrestlers to open the competition, topping Gardner-Webb's Hunter Gamble by a 7-3 decision before winning a 6-4 decision over Appalachian State's Forrest Przybysz.
Another close 3-2 decision over Duke's Trey Adamson launched the Mongolia native in the championship bout against Virginia Tech's Zach Eppery, where the Hokie grappler edged out Luvsandorj by a score of 4-3.
In the 125-pound division, redshirt junior Marquez toppled Duke's Alex Elsea and Gardner-Webb's Philip Anderson by major decisions before winning an 8-4 decision over Wisconsin's Matthew Cavallaris.
In the semifinals bout, Marquez edged out Rider's JR Wert by a 4-1 decision but was unable to get ahead in a close 3-1 loss to NC State's Joe Deangelo in the championship bout.
Walker, who is in the midst of his first collegiate season, has found early success in the 149-pound division. The redshirt freshman, who captured the title last weekend at The Citadel Open, earned a 6:35 pin over Virginia's TJ Miller to open his day before edging out NC State's Beau Donahue, 6-5.
In the semifinal bout, Walker earned another tough 4-2 win over Duke's Connor Bass to launch him into the championship bout against Rider's Chad Walsh, where the Bronc grappler earned the 7-5 win over Walker.
After dropping his opening match in the 133-pound bracket, Hansen gathered four straight wins to earn fifth place, while Radford went 2-2 on the day en route to his fourth-place finish.
Gardner-Webb competes at Hokie Open
SALEM, Va. – Austin Trott captured the championship at 165 pounds and four different Gardner-Webb wrestlers finished in the top five of their weight classes Sunday at the 2013 Hokie Open.
Trott pinned North Carolina’s Riley Allen to start his run and picked up a pair of major decisions – a 20-2 win over Duke’s Marcus Cain in the semifinals and an 11-1 win over Duke’s Brian Dorsey in the title bout to capture first place.
Kyle Ash went 3-1 to capture third place at 157, defeating unattached Citadel wrestler Terrell Forbes, 6-5, to take the title. Ash dropped a close decision to Virginia Tech’s Chad Strube, 6-4, in the semifinals. He picked up a 13-5 major decision over NC State’s Michael Ceravalo in the opening round.
Unattached standout and future star Christopher Vassar rolled to second place at 141 pounds, whipping Ken State’s Nathan Skonieczny 10-2 in the opening bout and defeating unattached wrestlers Andrew Atkinson (Virginia) and Joey Ward (North Carolina) before falling to unattached Citadel participant Ugi Khishignyam, 11-2, in the finals.
Unattached at 174 pounds, Hunter Gamble rallied to post more individual wins than any other GWU participant on Sunday, going 5-1 to take home fifth place. After a 7-3 loss in the opening round to The Citadel’s Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, Gamble went on to win 7-0 over teammate Aaron Rabin, take a 19-4 major decision over VMI’s Jake Koch and hold on for a 4-3 win over Appalachian State’s Nick Kee.
Gamble then pinned Duke’s Alex Belaia and unattached Virginia grappler Tyler Askey to capture the fifth-place match.